Algiers, Dec 15, 2012 (SPS) - The Organization of African Trade Union Unity (OATUU) reaffirmed Saturday in Algiers its support to Saharawi people’s right to self-determination, an inalienable right recognized by the international community.
“We believe that it is now vital for the international trade union movement, particularly the African, show its full support to the independence of the Saharawi people,” said Mr Sidi Said Abdelmadjid mandated by the 10th Congress of OATUU (with 25 million members from 53 African countries) which was held in Algiers from 1 to 7 December.
“The African organization no longer wants to talk about self-determination but about the independence of the Saharawi people,” said Mr. Sidi Said in his speech at the 3rd international conference in Algiers on “the right of peoples to resistance: the case of the Saharawi people”.
He said, moreover, that OATUU had developed at the conference in Algiers a resolution on the Saharawi people under the title “Special Resolution of Solidarity with the Saharawi People”, stating that it will be submitted to the United Nations, European Union, African Union and Arab Maghreb Union.
He also called on the big countries that defend democracy and human rights “to apply these principles in case of the people of Western Sahara, who have been advocating their right to self-determination in accordance with the UN resolution 1514, adopted by the General Assembly of the United Nations on 15 December 1960.
He deplored the positions of trade union movements in some Western countries, such as France, which do not deplore this status quo, taking the occasion to pay tribute to the Spanish and Portuguese trade union movement for their stance in favor of the Saharawi cause.
He, on other hand, announced OATUU’s decision to organize an international conference of trade union solidarity with the Saharawi and Palestinian people. (SPS)
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